GRAND ISLE, La. — UPDATE: The Grand Isle Police Department has confirmed that the body of the drowning victim has been recovered. Few details on the recovery are available as this is a developing story.
Original:
A 13-year-old boy from Algiers drowned at a Grand Isle beach Saturday.
According to the Grand Isle Police Department, the incident happened around 3 p.m. behind Bridge Side Marina.
The boy went under the water near a rock jetty that was "very dangerous" and "conditions were rough", said Police Chief Walter Theriot. "And I was advised that he could barely swim."
Police said the boy's family was visiting from Algiers.
WWL reporter Rachel Handley went to the scene and said there was a massive response to save the teen.
She spoke to someone who jumped in and tried to rescue the boy.
"His uncle was on the rocks, hollering for help," said Brock Pellerin. "A couple of my friends went out there to help, by the time they got there, the tide was too strong for them to get to the boy," he said.
Pellerin said the boy was about 15 feet, or so, past the rock jetties. He said he and his friends tried to search for the teen's body.
Police initially said a father and son drowned. When officers went to the beach, they revised that report and said only one person drowned on the scene.
Some police are still on the beach searching for a body.
No further information.
This is a developing story and we're working to get more information.
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